Club de Fútbol América S.A. de C.V., commonly known as Club América or América, is a Mexico City-based professional football club. It competes in Liga MX, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas (The Eagles).

By 1917 football was already a popular sport in Mexico, particularly amongst college students in Mexico City. College students from Colegio Mascarones and Colegio Marista de la Perpetua formed two football teams with the names Récord and Colón. On 12 October 1916, the two squads decided to consolidate to make a more competitive squad. Many names were considered for this new squad, and team player Pedro "Cheto" Quintanilla suggested América since they had formed the team on Columbus Day(Día del descubrimiento de América). The players agreed and soon designed a crest which had the map of America centered with a 'C' for "Club" on the left and an 'A' for "America" on the right. The players had to decide on their team colours. Rafael Garza Gutiérrez went to get some of his father's navy blue trousers and a yellow shirt and it was decided amongst the group that those would be the club's colors.[19]

América squad 1924–1925

In 1916, Club América had to prove itself to the Mexican Football League, the latter consisted primarily of foreign-born players.[citation needed] At the time, América was the only club in Mexico City with all-Mexico born players. Necaxa, Atlante, Real Club España, Germania, and Asturias were already members of the Liga Mayor de la Ciudad. América's acceptance into the league rested on three games they had to win. América won two games, tied the third and were accepted.

In 1919, the team sought to improve its image[clarification needed] by changing its name to Club Unión; the club returned to América in 1920.[20] From 1924 to 1928, América was crowned league champion and was able to attract impressive crowds.[21] In 1926, América became the first Mexico-based club to play outside of Mexico.[20] Aside from broadening their horizons, Club América along with Atlante petitioned to reduce the number of foreign players in the league. Shortly after the Mexican Football Federation was formed in 1928, Rafael Garza Gutiérrez, América's founder, was designated as the National Team head coach. Most of the Mexico national team that participated in the 1928 Summer Olympics and 1930 World Cup were players that from América.[22]

Until 1942, Mexico had several leagues although the league in Mexico City was the most developed. In 1942–43, the first National League was established and it was known as the Liga Mayor (Major League). Club América had declined from its then-prime of the 1920s and 1930s: aging players, diminishing financial resources, and resulting lack of interest made the team a bottom-feeder at the start of the beginning stage of the professional era7.

It was during this time that the rivalry between América and Guadalajara was born—especially during the 1945–1946 season (when Guadalajara beat América 6–4 and 4–2) and the 1951–1952 season (América ebb to team position 11 out of 12 with a 3-point-difference from Veracruz, who were eventually relegated).

In 1956, the club was sold to soft drink manufacturer Jarritos. The new owner was trying to build upon the club's National Cup titles in 1954 and 1955 against Guadalajara, their soon to be rival.[23] During the 1954–55 season América won their first Campeón de Campeones championship, defeating Zacatepec 2–3.[24] The owner failed to build upon the previous success and on 22 July 1959, Emilio Azcárraga Milmo, owner of Telesistema Mexicano, bought América from Isaac Bessudo.[25] Following the acquisition, Azcárraga told his players, "I do not know much about football, but I do know a lot about business, and this, gentlemen, will be a business7".

The 1959–1960 season saw América reach its first league second place, behind Guadalajara. On 21 April 1964, at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, the team, now coached by Alejandro Scopelli, defeated Monterrey 6–5 in the final match of the Copa México. During the match Alfonso Portugal scored five of América's six; José González scored the other goal to win the championship.[26]

After the Mexico-hosted 1970 FIFA World Cup, the league tournament format was changed in response to the championship's disputed winners[clarification needed], hence the Liguilla (play-offs) format was started. The first play-off final was in 1971, between the leaders of group 1 (Toluca) and group 2 (América). América was the visitor so got a 0–0 draw for the first match playing Toluca, and at Azteca Stadium they defeated 2–0 to win their second league championship.[28] The following season saw a defeat in the playoff between América's rival Cruz Azul 1–4 in Azteca Stadium. América at the 1973 Copa Mexico defeated Cruz Azul 2–0.[29] A few years followed when América was not part of the playoffs, but they reached first place in Primera Division in the 1975–1976 season, beating Tecos UAG and Union de Curtidores to reach the final, playing against Universidad de Guadalajara. América won the championship after beating U de G in the Jalisco Stadium 3–0 and later 1–0 in the Azteca Stadium, winning their third title.[30] They also won the Campeon de Campeones title by beating Tigres UANL 2–0.

In 1977, América participated in their first Copa Interamericana, playing against Argentine club Boca Juniors, winners of the 1977 Copa Libertadores. After losing the first-leg and winning the second, América would win the championship in a playoff match in 1978 by a score of 2–1 after extra-time, with a last second free-kick goal by midfielder Carlos Reinoso.[31] América became the first team from Mexico and from the CONCACAF region to win the competition. América also became the first confederation side to earn the "double" in a single year as it won the delayed 1977 CONCACAF Champions' Cup.[32]

The 1980s are generally considered América's "golden decade".[33] During this time, América won the league title five times, including three consecutive titles; the 1983–84 season, the 1984–85 season,[34] the Prode 1985, the 1987–88 and 1988–89 seasons.[35] They also won the Mexican Super Cup twice, in 1987–88 and 1988–89,[36] and they won the 1987 CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

The 1983–1984 season saw América reach the top of the table and reach the finals. The opponent was Guadalajara, and América defeated them in the Azteca Stadium 3–1.[37] The following season América once again reached the finals, this time against UNAM Pumas. After two draws in both the Azteca Stadium and the Mexico '68 Stadium, the last game was played in the Estadio Corregidora in Querétaro, where Daniel Brailovsky secured the championship for América by scoring two goals with the final score of 3–1.[38]

Due to Mexico hosting the 1986 World Cup and stadium and infrastructure preparations, the tournament was split in two short tournaments: Prode-85 and Mexico-86. América got the top of their group in the Prode-85 and defeated Universidad de Guadalajara and Atlante to get to the final round, where they played Jaibos Tampico Madero. The game in Tampico was a 4–1 victory for Tampico, but at the Azteca Stadium, América beat Tampico Madero 4–0 to win the championship.

For the 1987–88 final América played UNAM in a replay of the 1985 final. They defeated UNAM by an aggregate score of 4–2.[39] The following season, América once again reached the league final and faced Cruz Azul, which was the first time the two clubs met in the final since 1972. The first-leg finished in a 3–2 victory for América. A 2–2 draw in the second-leg meant América won the championship by a 5–4 aggregate score.[40]

In the 1990s, América won only the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 1990,[41] an Interamericana Cup Championship in 1993,[42] and a second CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 1993.[43] During the 1990–1991 season, América dominated its group and reached the playoffs to eliminate Universidad de Guadalajara in the quarterfinal round and Guadalajara in the semifinal round, only to reach the final and lose to UNAM.

In 1994, club president Emilio Diez Barroso announced the hiring of Dutch manager Leo Beenhakker, who had previously coached Spanish club Real Madrid to a La Liga title. The club also announced the signing of two African players, Cameroon internationalFrançois Omam-Biyik and Zambian national team captain Kalusha Bwalya. Other Mexican players such as Joaquín del Olmo, Raúl Gutierrez, among others were signed as well. América finished the season with 51 points, and scoring 88 goals. With only a few matches remaining in the regular season, Beenhakker was fired as manager. It was rumored that conflict between the coach and Diez Barosso regarding Beenhacker's defending of playing Del Olmo was the reason for his sacking.[44] América reached the semifinals, losing to Cruz Azul. This América team is considered one of the best in the club's history, despite not winning any silverware.[45]

In 1998 América, along with Guadalajara, became the first Mexican clubs to participate in the Copa Libertadores tournament. They were inserted in a group where both teams confronted clubs from Venezuela. América finished in second position of the qualifying stage and advanced to the group stages. América was put in Group 3 along with Guadalajara and Brazilian clubs Grêmio and Vasco da Gama. América qualified to the next round finishing in third place, being eliminated by Argentine club River Plate.[46]

After the Club World Cup, América qualified for the playoffs of the Clausura 2007 defeating Atlas and Guadalajara in the quarter and semi-finals. They played the final against Pachuca, finishing runners-up.[51]

For the Apertura 2007, after starting off the season on a poor run, Luis Fernando Tena was sacked,[52] and was replaced by Daniel Brailovsky.[53] After finishing third in their group and sixth in the general standings, América played Morelia for the last spot in the playoffs, being beaten 3–0 in the first-leg, and winning 1–0 in the second-leg. With this, América was eliminated from the competition.[54]

The Clausura 2008 saw América end in next-to-last place in the general standings. This had not been seen since the mid-1950s. In the first five months of 2008, América was showered with twelve defeats, two draws and three victories, which resulted in the third-straight tournament without qualifying for the playoffs. The manager at the time was Rubén Omar Romano, who was one of the least successful coaches in the club's history.[59] Coincidently, after being replaced by Juan Antonio Luna,[60] América got their third victory of the Clausura against Monterrey. Despite their poor domestic form, América fared well in the Copa Libertadores, defeating Brazilian side Flamengo in the round-of-16 3–0 at the Estádio do Maracanã, overturning a 2–4 first-leg deficit, and advancing to the quarter-finals.[61]

For the Apertura 2010, América brought back former manager Manuel Lapuente, who lead the club to the league title in 2002.[62] The return of striker Vicente Matías Vuoso and the signing of Uruguayan Vicente Sánchez gave América one of the most dangerous front lines in all of the league.[63][64] They finished the tournament in first place of Group 2, fourth in the general standings, with 27 points. With this, they would advance to the playoffs, and automatically qualify for the first time since 2008, for the 2011 Copa Libertadores. They would be eliminated in the semi-finals by Santos Laguna by a 4–5 aggragate score.[65]

América had a bad start to the Clausura 2011 tournament. With a 0–2–1 record in the first three games the tournament, Lapuente was sacked.[66] His successor would be Carlos Reinoso,[67] who had already managed the club two times before. His first game was against Atlas, which América won 2–0.[68] América ended the Clausura with an 8–1–5 record. They would be eliminated in the quarter-finals by Morelia.[69]

On 18 September 2011, Reinoso was sacked as manager,[70] with Alfredo Tena taking over as interim-manager. América would finish the Apertura in 17th place, the second worst finish in the club's history. On 8 November, Michel Bauer stepped down as President.[71] That same day, former América player Ricardo Peláez was presented as Sporting President, while Yon De Luisa would be named Operations President.[72]Miguel Herrera was presented as the club's new manager, the fourth in a year.[73] In his first year at the helm, Herrera brought the team to the semi-finals on two consecutive occasions.

On 26 May 2013, América won their eleventh league title by defeating Cruz Azul in the Clausura final 4–2 on penalties after a dramatic comeback from a 0–1 first-leg loss to win 2–1 in the second-leg, and tie 2–2 on aggregate, with goalkeeper Moisés Muñoz scoring the second goal in injury-time.[74][75][76][77][78] With this, América tied Guadalajara for most league titles.[79] For the Apertura 2013, América finished the regular phase of the tournament at the top of the standings with 37 points and would again appear in the league final, though failing to achieve a repeat, being defeated by León by an aggregate score of 1–5.[80]

On 17 December 2013, Antonio Mohamed was announced as América's new manager for the Clausura 2014 tournament, replacing Miguel Herrera after two years in charge.[81] América would finish fifth in the standings, and was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Santos Laguna due to the away-goals rule after drawing 6–6 on aggregate.[82]

América finished the Apertura 2014 tournament at the top of the general standings with 31 points, and defeated UNAM and Monterrey in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively.[83] Prior to the league final, the club was marred with controversy, such as media speculation regarding the future Antonio Mohamed (he ultimately admitted he would leave the club after the final), and the separation of Paul Aguilar from the team before playing the first-leg of the semi-finals.[84] On 14 December, América won a record-twelfth league title after defeating UANL 3–1 on aggregate in the final, coming back from a 0–1 first-leg loss to win 3–0 in the second-leg at the Estadio Azteca.[85][86][87][88]

Three days after winning the final, América announced Gustavo Matosas as Mohamed's successor, signing a two-year contract.[89]

When Club América was founded in 1916, the crest consisted of the letter 'C', standing for "Club", overlapped by an 'A', which stood for "América".[90] After a brief period in which the team's name was changed to Club Unión, it was reverted to Club América in the mid-1920s, and the crest was modified, with a map of the Americas behind the 'CA', and encased in a football, all in the team's colors - which where cream and blue.[91][92] Since then, the badge has seen minimal change, such as the removal of a line at the crest's center at the beginning of the 21st century. During the early 1980s, the crest was surrounded by an image of an eagle (due to the club's nickname), and was even enclosed in a triangle.[91]

The most recent modification of the crest was in 2010, with the yellow and blue more vibrant and a darker outline and border.[93]

Club founder Rafael Garza Gutiérrez chose what would be América's first uniform. He took some of his father's navy blue trousers and a yellow-cream shirt and it was decided amongst the other players that those would be the club's colors.[19] It would not be until the 1980s that the colors changed, with the cream replaced with a more solid yellow. América also played with a white shirt, but it was not as common.

During the Apertura 2011 tournament – what would be the club's 95th anniversary – a commemorative jersey was unveiled paying homage to the original uniform, as well as an altered crest. The uniform was used during the league match against Guadalajara.[94]

The rivalry between Club América and Club Universidad Nacional is known as the "Clásico Capitalino",[98] played between two of the three teams which represent Mexico City and the metropolitan area of the Primera División de México. The first match between these two clubs was on 1 July 1962, where América hosted UNAM who had recently been promoted from the second division. In Mexico the match is often perceived as the representation of a struggle between two antagonistic powers and institutions: Club América has always been regarded as the club of the establishment and the wealthy. The fact that the club is owned by the multimedia mass media company Televisa has further intensified this image. UNAM, representing the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, identifies itself as the club of the intellectuals and middle-class.[99] The rivalry is particularly fierce from UNAM's side: according to surveys the majority of their supporters consider América as their main rival. However, America’s fans see it as an important match but deem the match against Chivas as more important.[100]

Club América's other capital-based rival is Cruz Azul, whom they compete in a derby known as the "Clásico Joven" (Juvenile Classic in Spanish).[98] Although both teams reside in Mexico City, Cruz Azul originated in Jasso, Hidalgo. In a similar perspective between América and UNAM's rivalry, the rivalry between América and Cruz Azul is also seen as based on social class differences: América representing the wealthy and powerful while Cruz Azul is said to represent the working class,[101] hence fans of Cruz Azul and the team itself being insulted by the nickname of "Los Albañiles" (bricklayers in Spanish), a reference to Cruz Azul's eponymous parent company, which is one of Mexico's major companies specializing in concrete and construction.

Ever since América was bought by Emilio Azcárraga Milmo from Issac Bessudo in 1959, the club has had the unique distinction of being both the most popular and hated club in the country.[102] An emphasis on heavy spending on Mexican and foreign players and managers in subsequent seasons, as well as success in domestic and international competitions, created an increasing sense of enmity from rival fans. The fact that Azcárraga Milmo was also the owner of telecommunications company Telesistema Mexicano further created the notion that América was the club of the "establishment" and the "wealthy", while others were considered teams representing the "working class".[101]

In December 2013 Mexican newspaper Reforma had América as the country's most popular club with 25 percent in a nationwide survey, and the most popular club in Mexico City. They were also voted the most hated club in the same survey with 41 percent of the votes.[103][104] According to a February 2015 poll conducted by Mexican pollster Consulta Mitofsky, América is Mexico's most popular football club with 31.1 percent, and the most hated with 41.5 percent.[105][106][107] According to a study conducted by consulting agency EuroAmericas Sports Marketing, América is the most popular Mexican club in Asia, and the third most popular from the American continent after Corinthians of Brazil and Boca Juniors of Argentina.[108]

Being reputed as the most-hated club in the country has been embraced by the club and its fans, with the phrase "Ódiame Más" — or "Hate me more" in English — being known as one of the team's unofficial slogans.[109]

América has the highest attendance numbers in Mexico and the eighth most in the world.[110]

Since the club was established in 1916, América has had 26 club presidents, with the first being Florencio Domínguez, who served from 1916 to 1920. Guillermo Cañedo de la Bácerna is the club's longest-serving president who served from 1961 to 1981. Filiberto Zapata had the shortest term in the club's history — serving less than year — in 1940. Ricardo Peláez, who was named in 2011, is the club's current president.[124]

^ abArchibold, Randal C. (25 October 2013). "Mexican Writer Mines the Soccer Field for Metaphors". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 October 2013. With Cruz Azul and América taking to the field on the television behind him at the cantina, Mr. Villoro sought to put the game, a traditional matchup between dominant teams in the capital, in context. “This is the Mexico City classic,” he explained. “The game itself is one thing, who scores, who wins. But Cruz Azul represents the working class here; that is their following. América is the upper class, the rich or wannabe rich. So this condenses into the workers versus the wannabes.”